Up front, Dinny Corcoran is back for his third spell with the club after two years away with Sligo Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic, while Kaleem Simon signs from Longford Town.

Long said: “We’ve a lot of new faces and we’re confident we can get the best out of them.

“It’s going to be a challenging year. But it will be an exciting one too – there are good characters in the dressing room.

“We’ve kept a lot of experience from last year too – we have a very experienced back five.

“Other clubs have increased their spending, so we know it’s not going to be easy.

“But we have targeted young players who we feel we can help reach their potential and we hope to sign one or two more.

“The players we’ve brought in are not household names. But it’s a youthful squad with potential and character.”

There are changes in the backroom too. Long has appointed Trevor Croly as his assistant manager, while former Ipswich Town goalkeeper Darren Kelly is the club’s new goalkeeping coach.

Croly joins the club with a considerable coaching pedigree, most notably as assistant manager at Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic, and subsequently as manager of Shamrock Rovers and Bray Wanderers.

Long added: “We’ve freshened things up a bit by bringing in a new backroom team. But I’d like to thank Graham O’Hanlon and Fred Davis for all their service to the club over the last few years and I also wish Ger McDermott well in his new role with the FAI having been the club’s fitness coach in 2016.

“I’m delighted to have both Trevor and Darren on board and look forward to working with them both.”

​NEW SIGNINGS:

DINNY CORCORAN: This will be Corcoran’s third spell at Bohemians after two years away with Sligo Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic respectively. Having first signed for the club in 2012, Corcoran rejoined in July 2013 after a brief spell with UCD. He proved a key man as the Gypsies turned their season around to avoid relegation.Position: StrikerDate of birth: February 13th 1989 (27)Former clubs: St Patrick’s Athletic, Sligo Rovers, UCD, Drogheda Utd, Shelbourne (loan), Sporting Fingal.Manager’s notes: “He didn’t play much this year with St Pat’s but Dinny had a good year with Sligo in 2015. He really feels at home at Dalymount – he’s delighted to be back. He’s an excellent professional and I’m really looking forward to working with him.”

FUAD SULE: Sule was a star man for the St Patrick’s Athletic U19s as they topped the SSE Airtricity U19 Northern Elite League this year and finished runners-up in the Enda McGuill Cup.Position: MidfielderDate of birth: January 20th 1997 (19)Former clubs: St Patrick’s Athletic, Shamrock RoversManager’s notes: “Fuad is a strong central-midfielder and we expect big things of him. He’s had two years with St Pat’s and has a lot of potential.”

GREG MURRAY
Having previously served as understudy to Dean Delany, Murray rejoins after three seasons with Shelbourne in the First Division. He is best remembered for keeping a clean sheet in only his second league start as Bohemians recorded their first win in Tallaght over Shamrock Rovers in September 2012.Position: GoalkeeperDate of birth: August 30th 1993 (23)Former club: ShelbourneManager’s notes: “Greg comes back to the club a lot more experienced now with three seasons in the First Division under his belt. He will provide good competition for Shane Supple.”

JAMIE DOYLE
Doyle was Shelbourne’s Player of the Year in 2016 having joined from UCD where he played in all four of the Students’ Europa League games in 2015.Position: Midfielder/strikerDate of birth: October 30th 1993 (23)Former clubs: Shelbourne, UCDManager’s notes: “Jamie can play left-wing or up front. I was really impressed with him when he was with UCD and he’s another player we looked at signing last year. It’s a big step-up from the First Division but we’re confident he can make it. He’s 6ft 3in but for a big lad, he’s got good feet and is comfortable on the ball.”

KALEEM SIMON: Simon can play on both flanks or up front. A product of UCD’s U19s, he joined Longford Town in 2014.Position: Winger/strikerDate of birth: July 8th 1996 (20)Former clubs: Longford Town, UCDManager’s notes: “He’s very quick and powerful. Again he’s a very young player but he’s had two seasons of Premier Division football under his belt and I think we can help him to progress even further.”

PHILLIP GANNON: A central midfielder, Finglas man Gannon spent two years with West Brom’s academy before signing for Longford Town in August 2015.Position: MidfielderDate of birth: October 11th 1996 (20)Former clubs: Longford Town, West BromManager’s notes: “Phillip has good pedigree. He has very good technical ability and a wide range of passing. He’s had 18 months of Premier Division football under his belt and he’s only just turned 20. He’s another player we hope to educate and improve.”

ROB CORNWALL: A graduate of the St Patrick’s Athletic U19s, Cornwall’s first taste of Premier Division football came with Shelbourne in 2013. He was signed by Trevor Croly for Shamrock Rovers in 2014. He went on loan to Derry City in 2015. But back in the first team in Tallaght in 2016, he made 22 starts.Position: DefenderDate of birth: October 16th 1994 (22)Former clubs: Shamrock Rovers, Derry City (loan), Shelbourne, St Patrick’s AthleticManager’s notes: “Rob can play at centre-back or at right-back. He’s someone we wanted to sign last year . He’s still only 22, so he’s young and someone we’re keen to develop here.”